Placing inadvertently omitted ventilation strip

Abstract

An improved ventilation strip for providing a soffit vent on a building. The ventilation strip includes an elongated perforated panel having a substantially planar upper surface and flanges extending laterally there from. A lip is provided on the lower surface of the panel at each edge of the panel running longitudinally thereon. The flanges are of non-uniform cross section and include an upper and a lower surface. The flanges are thickest at the juncture with the panel and thinnest at their outer ends with the lower surface tapering upward from the juncture to the end. Apertures may be provided in the flanges. The ventilation strip is operated by cutting a channel in the soffit of a structure, aligning the strip with the channel, and driving fasteners through the flanges to secure the strip to the soffit. Stucco reinforcement mesh may be secured across the flanges and the soffit and stucco spread thereon to complete the installation. In an alternative embodiment, the upper surface of the flanges may be provided with adhesive and a removable strip. The removable strip can be removed and the flanges pressed against the soffit to secure the ventilations strip to a soffit without the use of fasteners. The tapered edge of the flange enables the edges of the ventilation strip to blend easily with the soffit to create an attractive soffit vent thereon.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A ventilation strip comprising: 
       an elongated panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a substantially uniform cross-sectional profile, and two edges;  
       said elongated panel including a substantially planar upper surface;  
       perforations in said panel;  
       a lip at each of said edges;  
       a flange extending laterally from each of said edges;  
       said flanges having an upper and lower surface; and  
       said flanges of non-uniform cross-sectional tapering profile.  
     
     
       2. The ventilation strip of  claim 1  wherein said cross-sectional profile of said flanges includes 
       a first cross-section at the juncture of said flange with said edge; and  
       a second cross-section at the end of said flange;  
       wherein said first cross-section is larger than said second cross-section.  
     
     
       3. The ventilation strip of  claim 2  wherein said upper surface of said flange is substantially planar with the upper surface of said panel and said lower surface of said flange tapers upward from said juncture to said end. 
     
     
       4. The ventilation strip of  claim 3  wherein 
       said cross-sectional profile of said panel is between 0.03 and 0.07 inch;  
       said first cross-section of said flange is between 0.02 and 0.06 inch;  
       and  
       said second cross-section of said flange is between 0.005 and 0.025 inch.  
     
     
       5. The ventilation strip of  claim 4  wherein said lower surface of said flanges include striations therein. 
     
     
       6. The ventilation strip of  claim 5  wherein said striations run longitudinally along said lower surface of said flanges. 
     
     
       7. The ventilation strip of  claim 6  wherein said striations have a depth of between 0.003 and 0.008 inch in said lower surface. 
     
     
       8. The ventilation strip of  claim 1  wherein said flange extends laterally from each of said edges between 0.375 and 1.5 inches. 
     
     
       9. The ventilation strip of  claim 1  wherein said perforations are circular apertures having a diameter between 0.005 and 0.015 inch. 
     
     
       10. The ventilation strip of  claim 5  wherein said flanges further include apertures therein. 
     
     
       11. The ventilation strip of  claim 10  wherein said apertures include large apertures and small apertures. 
     
     
       12. The ventilation strip of  claim 11  wherein said large apertures are between 0.03 and 0.05 inch in diameter and said small apertures are between 0.10 and 0.20 inch in diameter. 
     
     
       13. The ventilation strip of  claim 1  wherein said strip is constructed of plastic. 
     
     
       14. The ventilation strip of  claim 13  wherein said strip is constructed of polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. 
     
     
       15. The ventilation strip of  claim 1  wherein said lip extends between 0.003 and 0.013 inch from said lower surface of said panel. 
     
     
       16. A method of creating a soffit vent under a eave of an overhanging roof of a building comprising the steps of: 
       providing a ventilation strip including an elongated panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a substantially uniform cross-sectional profile, and two edges;  
       providing a substantially planar upper surface on said panel;  
       providing perforations in said panel;  
       providing a lip at each of said edges;  
       providing a flange of non-uniform cross-sectional tapering profile extending laterally from each of said edges;  
       cutting a longitudinal channel in the soffit of the building with the edges of said channel a distance apart substantially equal to the width of said panel;  
       placing said ventilation strip against said soffit;  
       aligning said panel under said channel; and  
       driving a suitable number of fasteners through said flanges to secure said ventilation strip to said soffit.  
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  further including the steps of: 
       securing stucco reinforcement mesh across the lower surface of one of said flanges and the adjacent soffit;  
       securing stucco reinforcement mesh across the lower surface of the other of said flanges and the adjacent soffit;  
       spreading stucco across said stucco reinforcement mesh and said soffit until said stucco is level with each of said lips.  
     
     
       18. A method of creating a soffit vent under the eave of an overhanging roof of a building comprising the steps of: 
       providing a ventilation strip including an elongated panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a substantially uniform cross-sectional profile, and two edges;  
       providing a substantially planar upper surface on said panel;  
       providing perforations in said panel;  
       providing a lip at each of said edges;  
       providing a flange of non-uniform cross-sectional tapering profile extending laterally from each of said edges, said flange including an upper and a lower surface, said flange including a first end at the juncture with said panel and a second end opposite said juncture, said flange thicker at said juncture and thinner at said end;  
       providing an adhesive layer on the upper surface of said flange;  
       providing a removable protective layer on said adhesive layer;  
       cutting a longitudinal channel in the soffit of the building with the edges of said channel a distance apart substantially equal to the width of said panel;  
       removing said removable protective layer from said adhesive layer;  
       aligning said panel under said channel and said adhesive layers under said soffit at each side of said channel; and  
       pressing said upper surface of said flanges against said soffit to secure said ventilation strip to said soffit wherein said upper surface of said flanges are flush with the lower surface of said soffit and said ends of said flanges extend a minimal distance from said lower surface of said soffit.  
     
     
       19. A ventilation strip comprising: 
       an elongated panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, a substantially uniform cross-sectional profile, and two edges;  
       said elongated panel including a substantially planar upper surface;  
       perforations in said panel;  
       a lip at each of said edges;  
       a flange extending laterally from each of said edges;  
       said flanges having an upper and lower surface;  
       said flanges of non-uniform cross-sectional tapering profile;  
       an adhesive layer on said upper surface of said flange; and  
       a removable layer on said adhesive layer.